Innovative and scalable healthcare solutions developed in and/or relevant to Africa. Solutions must address health problems in new and different ways — often through simpler and more effective means. Must be realistic with capability and potential to be enlarged and replicated across African contexts. Prioritizes innovations already deployed in African health settings.

Regional infrastructure and development projects

Established companies with strong cash generation

Tech startups that can integrate with Telefonica's ecosystem

Financial institutions (banks, MFIs, SACCOs) willing to add water and sanitation loans to their portfolio

Local implementing partner organizations with WASH expertise, community presence, and alignment with WaterAid's country strategies

Very early-stage companies with exceptional founders. Olumide Soyombo (early Paystack investor) co-founded — they know what early-stage winners look like.

Microfinance subsidiary of World Vision

Visa corporate foundation. $200M+ committed. Focus on inclusive digital economies and women's economic advancement. Programs include Visa Everywhere Initiative (startup competition), grants to non-profits building financial inclusion, and partnership programs across Africa.

Health and life science innovators building viable, scalable solutions that improve quality of life for people across Africa. Strong emphasis on innovations for low-resource settings, including eye health, MedTech, diagnostics, digital health, and maternal health. India-Africa cross-pollination of health innovation models.

Extremely poor households in rural Africa — women, refugees, and youth seeking self-reliance through micro-enterprise

Unique peer-selection model — founders in the cohort vote on who gets investment. Programs: Greentech Africa (climate), Empowering Sustainable Entrepreneurship, VilCap Communities. $7B+ mobilized globally since 2009. Cohort-based investment readiness + funding.

Web startups needing deployment infrastructure

Category-defining companies in African tech. Kola Aina (GP) looks for founders who deeply understand their market and can execute relentlessly.

Early-stage tech startups

Companies needing growth capital without dilution

Community-based enterprises led by women, youth, and persons with disability at constituency level

US government agency that directly funds African-owned enterprises serving underserved communities. Unlike other USAID programs, USADF works without local government intermediaries. Favors grassroots organizations, cooperatives, and social enterprises with clear community development impact.

Global venture platform connecting growth-stage impact entrepreneurs with corporate partners and investors. Barclays, IKEA, and other Fortune 500 partnerships. 300+ ventures in portfolio reaching 3B+ lives. Unreasonable Impact and Unreasonable Collective programs.

Early-stage founders tackling extreme challenges